A makeup artist and fashion designer from Namibia was crowned Miss Supranational in ceremonies staged at Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Malopolska, Poland, on Aug. 21 (Aug. 22 in Manila).
Chanique Rabe was chosen from a field of 58 contenders to become the first winner from Africa in the 12-year-old Poland-based competition.
The new queen impressed the judges during the final round of questioning. When asked what she would discuss with her country’s leader, Rabe said, “Coming from a third world country and seeing how he handled the COVID pandemic, how wonderfully he communicated with our nation … how he handled everything, I would love to get some advice from him for my journey forward.”
She cited the country’s 11 ethnic groups, which she said makes communication “not always easy.”
Namibian President Hage Geingob was praised by other state leaders, and even the World Health Organization, for successfully containing COVID-19 during the earlier months of the pandemic.
The global health crisis also impacted the Miss Supranational pageant and left the organizers with no other choice but to postpone the competition.
The Philippines’ Dindi Pajares finished in the Top 12, even if she had consistently placed in the preliminary contests, including a first runner-up finish in the “Miss Elegance” competition.
The Air Force reservist and flight attendant from Bataan only had a little over a week to prepare for her first international pageant. —CONTRIBUTED INQ
